Quiz: Can You Name These Women-Authored Books from a Single Sentence Summary?: HowStuffWorks

Can You Name These Women-Authored Books from a Single Sentence Summary?

EDUCATION

By: Amanda Monell

7 Min Quiz

Image: Carol Yepes / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

If you are a bibliophile, you usually can tell whether an author is a male or female without looking at the front cover. What's the difference? When it comes to males versus female authors, it is all about perspective.

Just like methods of communication, most male authors will often go into depth describing various activities and physical details. If you take a writer like Stephen King, one of the most prolific writers of horror, you'll rarely see how characters feel about a situation; however, you'll get detailed descriptions about physical settings. Another author, Jim Dresden, will often fade to black before exploring romantic situations, leaving things to the reader's imagination. And yes, most of us are grateful for doing this. Of course, this will rely on the genre, so romance novels aren't relevant.

Most female authors, on the other hand, tend to go into detail about the feelings and motivations behind how each action will drive the character forward. Anne Rice, another horror writer, will often show how each character feels by creating relationships, mostly with romantic overtones. Yes, she does go into detail about the setting; however, instead of pages, there are only a few paragraphs.

Either way, both genders give us an entertaining reading experience. Let's see if you can match the book and author to the summary description.

Newly relocated girl in town falls in love with a glittery vampire.

"The Vampire Lestat" by Anne Rice

"Obsidian Butterfly" by Laurell K. Hamilton

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers

If you're a fan of the "Twilight" series, you'll recognize the two different fan groups. During the film release of the "Twilight" films, fans were divided into two different groups: #TeamJacob and #TeamEdward.

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A rabbit outwits a farmer for his crop of carrots.

"Puffer Bunny and the Escape to the Meadow" by Francis Allgood

"The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter

"Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe

"Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt

Beatrix Potter was best known for her work on "The Tale of Peter Rabbit;" however, she had also was a shrewd businesswoman. After designing and producing the first Peter Rabbit plushie in 1903, Beatrix obtained a patent, making him the oldest licensed literary character.

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An eclectic detective solves a murder on a train.

"Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

"Obsidian Butterfly" by Laurell K. Hamilton

"A is for Alibi" by Sue Grafton

"Grave Danger" by Rachel Grant

In 2017, Kenneth Branagh brought "Murder on the Orient Express" to the big screen. In addition to Branagh starring in the lead, the star-studded cast included Johnny Depp as a fugitive on the run Michelle Pfeiffer as a boisterous American and Judi Dench as a princess.

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Four sisters experience joy and heartbreak during the Civil War.

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

In 1994, "Little Women" hit the big screen for the second time. This primarily female cast stars Winona Ryder as fiercely independent Jo March Kirsten Dunst as prim and proper Amy March and Susan Sarandon as their mother Mrs. March.

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A college student creates a murderous monster using the bodies of the dead.

"This Is Not a Test" by Courtney Summers

"Feed" by Mira Grant

"Hollow Land" by Amanda Hocking

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

While watching many of the Frankenstein movies, you may think that Frankenstein's monster is unintelligent. This is untrue; Frankenstein's monster learns how to speak from a family in the neighborhood, and he articulates his desire to have a mate for his creator, Victor.

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After missing for a year, a scientist's daughter and a group of friends go on a time-hopping adventure to find him.

"The Shining Girls" by Lauren Beukes

"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle

"All the Birds in the Sky" by Charlie Jane Anders

Because "A Wrinkle in Time" wasn't an easy book to market, it took between 25 and 40 different submissions before a publisher took a chance on it. Today, this 1963 Newberry awarding book has sold around 16 million copies in 30 languages.

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Written as a series of letters, this novel documents the frustrations a boy has with his parents' divorce and a lunch thief.

"Dear Mr. Henshaw" by Beverly Cleary

"Meerkat Mail" by Emily Gravett

"A Letter to My Teacher" by Deborah Hopkinson

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Nina Sankovitch

Even though most of Beverly Cleary's books are lighthearted, "Dear Mr. Henshaw" can be heartbreaking. Divorce, something that wasn't addressed very often in children's literature, was handled delicately and because of this, "Dear Mr. Henshaw" won the John Newberry Medal in 1984.

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A confident and independent woman returns to Florida after a long absence where townspeople gossip about what happened to her husband.

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers

"Jazz" by Toni Morrison

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

If you ever need inspiration to go back to school, look no further than Zora Neale Hurston's story. By the time she was 26, she had realized that she hadn't finished school. So what did she do? She returned to high school after telling authorities that she was 10 years younger.

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A woman is conflicted about traveling to China and telling her mother's story to her long lost half-sisters.

"Folding Bejing" by Hao Jingfang

"The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

"Red Azalea" by Anchee Min

"The Road of Others" by Anni Baobei

Like many authors, Amy Tan dedicates much of her time promoting literacy programs and other charities, one of which was zoological field studies. Because of this, there is a leech named after her: the chtonobdella tanae.

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A necromancer vampire hunting detective is blackmailed into solving the murders of several vampires living in her city.

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers

"Interview with a Vampire" by Anne Rice

"Guilty Pleasures" by Laurel K. Hamilton

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"Guilty Pleasures," the first of 28 books featuring vampire hunter Anita Blake, created an interesting setting when it came to human/supernatural creature relations. Instead of hiding in shadows and being feared, many of the creatures are out in the open and mostly embraced by the public.

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A psychic moves into a town filled with supernatural creatures to solve a murder mystery.

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Cherry Jones

"Midnight, Texas" by Charlaine Harris

"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson

"The Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling

If you haven't heard of the "Midnight, Texas" series, you may be more familiar with one of her other groups of books. Called "The Southern Vampire Series," these books were the basis for the television show "True Blood."

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After winning a turtle, a fourth-grade boy recounts stories of his mischievous brother, including the time where his brother ate his prized turtle.

"Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary

"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume

"Vincent & Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" was the first novel in the "Fudge" series of books. After writing four titles, Judy Blume wanted to retire Peter and his younger brother Fudge, but it was her grandson who loved Fudge so much that she wrote the final book in the series.

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When a roommate catches the flu, a young inexperienced college student interviews a sexy prominent businessman and is exposed to his kinky world.

"Story of O" by Anne Desclos

"50 Shades of Grey" by E.L. James

"Fear of Flying" by Erica Jong

"The New Girl" by R.L. Stine

The "50 Shades" trilogy became one of the most successful published works in history; in 2015, it was estimated that 125 million copies had been sold. This number was calculated before the movies were released, so we can only guess that it increased.

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A high school student finds out that she's a princess and needs to learn proper etiquette.

"The Worst Princess" by Anna Kemp

"The Princess in Black" by Shannon Hale

"The Princess Diaries" by Meg Cabot

"The Apple-Pip Princess" by Jane Ray

Most Disney fans probably got this answer right: in 2001 Disney studios released a full-length feature based on the book. It had a star-studded cast including Julie Andrews who played Queen Clairesse Rinaldi and Anne Hathaway who starred as Mia Thermopolis.

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Recent college grad discovers that working for a fashion magazine's editor isn't what it's cracked up to be.

"The Beautiful Fall" by Alicia Drake

"#Girlboss" by Sophia Amoruso

"D. V." by Diana Vreeland

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger

What do Lauren Weisberger and Dunder Mifflin Paper Company have in common? Both the author and the home office of the company on "The Office" shared a hometown in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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While visiting an alien planet, a human emissary comes across aliens who can change their gender at will and has to learn their customs.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

"Orlando" by Virginia Woolf

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

"Amatka" by Karin Tidbeck

"The Left Hand of Darkness" was one of Ursula K. Le Guin's most famous novels. Exploring gender roles psychology and social norms, "The Left Hand of Darkness" won several awards including the coveted Hugo Award for Best Novel.

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Set in 1962, three women challenge a town's viewpoint of them.

"Sisterhood Is Global" by Robin Morgan

"Dear Sisters" by Rosalyn Baxandall

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

"Not My Mother's Sister" by Astrid Henry

In 2011, "The Help" was brought to the big screen. It had a star-filled cast including future Oscar winner Emma Stone as Skeeter Phalen and Octavia Spencer, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Minny Jackson.

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In New York, a writer exposes her readers to her crazy fun friends.

"Sula" by Toni Morrison

"Sex and the City" by Candace Bushnell

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella

"Sula" by Toni Morrison

After the insane success of both the "Sex and the City" movies and books, Candace Bushnell expanded the universe to include "The Carrie Diaries" and "Summer and the City," two young adult books that focus on Carrie Bradshaw's high school years.

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Known for their bright red dresses, women are enslaved and forced to have sex with their owners.

"Amatka" by Karin Tidbeck

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

"Orlando" by Virginia Woolf

If you're passionate about green living, you should definitely check out Margaret Atwood's books. Published by O.W. Toad Limited, the books are printed on 100% recycled and ancient tree-friendly paper.

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This collection of interwoven stories is a sweet coming of age book laced with humor.

"Sex and the City" by Candace Bushnell

"Sula" by Toni Morrison

"#Girlboss" by Sophia Amoruso

"The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" by Melissa Bank

With a razor-sharp wit, Melissa Bank offers a fresh perspective on family relationships dating and workplace drama. It wasn't unnoticed: "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award for Longlist in 1999.

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An author explores her battle with severe depression.

"First We Make Beast Beautiful" by Sarah Wilson

"Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things" by Jenny Lawson

"Willow" by Julia Hoban

"The Night Child" by Anna Quinn

Jenny Lawson started out as a blogger spending time describing her anxiety and depression with a bit of humor. "Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things" is her second book and it spent around five months on the New York Best Seller List.

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While at a friend's bachelorette party, a woman gets framed for the groom's murder.

"A is for Alibi" by Sue Grafton

"Obsidian Butterfly" by Laurell K. Hamilton

"A is for Alibi" by Sue Grafton

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware

Many authors have book clubs or fan groups, but Ruth Ware's book club comes with a perk. In addition to a free short story for fans to read, there is also an opportunity to win a copy of one of her books.

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Driven over the edge by his boss and corporate culture, an employee poisons the coffee supply turning his coworkers into zombies.

"Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan

"The Robusta Incident" by Jennifer Fales

"My Life as a White Trash Zombie" by Diana Rowland

"This is Not a Test" by Courtney Summers

Instead of the typical method of zombie transformation involving an infection, Jennifer Fales chooses to poison her characters. Given that many offices are fueled by coffee-swilling employees, this could pose a terrorizing threat indeed.

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Based on a true story, this book tells the story of three black women who helped NASA during the Space Race of the 1960s.

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

"Sula" by Toni Morrison

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

"Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

When "Hidden Figures" came out on the big screen in 2016, Octavia Spencer did something really cool. She bought out an entire movie theater and screened the film for low-income families to expose them to this amazing story.

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In the Australian Outback, a woman struggles with her attraction to a local priest.

"Zoya" by Danielle Steel

"The Thornbirds" by Colleen McCullough

"50 Shades of Grey" by E L James

"Year One" by Nora Roberts

In 1983, "The Thornbirds" became a national sensation; a mini-series featuring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown conquered ABC's prime time ratings. To date, it is the second most watched mini-series with only "Roots" ahead of it.

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Embraced by a charismatic vampire, a plantation owner struggles to keep his humanity while siring a young girl.

"Obsidian Butterfly" by Laurell K. Hamilton

"Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers

When it comes to Anne Rice, there is a genre of book for everyone. Goths can check out "The Vampire Chronicles," devout Christians can read the "Christ the Lord" series, and the romantics can enjoy The Sleeping Beauty series.

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After getting fired from a glamorous job, a woman turns to bounty hunting and pursues an ex-boyfriend who happens to be a corrupt cop.

"The Beautiful Fall" by Alicia Drake

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger

"One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich

"#Girlboss" by Sophia Amoruso

Before becoming the writer that she is now, Janet Evanovich mailed her manuscripts out to publishers, getting rejected time and time again. It wasn't until she took a job as a temp that she got a call from a publisher wanting to print her work.

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A group of teens is forced to fight to the death to live in a wealthy town and supply their hometowns with food for the year.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle

"All the Birds in the Sky" by Charlie Jane Anders

"The Hunger Games," the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy, introduces readers to Katniss Everdeen, an amazing archer and survivalist, as well as both of her crushes Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne.

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After taking on a physically draining challenge, a teen struggles with her identity and how it is going to affect society.

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

"All the Birds in the Sky" by Charlie Jane Anders

"Divergent" by Veronica Roth

The Divergent factions include the Candor (honesty) the Dauntless the Amity (peace) the Abnegation (selflessness) and Erudite (intelligence). Tris, the main character, fights to join the Dauntless.

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In order to fall in love, two people, a friend of a wealthy suitor and an independent daughter of a country gentleman, need to get over their pride and discover who the other truly is.

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Did you know that "Pride and Prejudice" was originally called "First Impressions"? After getting a rejection note from a publisher, Jane Austen worked the material she had until it was the book we know today for almost 15 years.

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After surviving an attack by an evil wizard, a boy learns about his history and attends a school specializing in magic.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

"The Magicians' Guild" by Trudi Canavan

"A College of Magics" by Caroline Stevermer

"Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell

Do you know why J. K. Rowling only uses her initials as an author? When she presented "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to her publishers, she anticipated that her audience was going to be young boys, so they insisted that she shorten her name.

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A teenage girl struggles to choose between two very different vampire brothers.

"The Vampire Lestat" by Anne Rice

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening" by L.J. Smith

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers

For eight seasons, "The Vampire Diaries" aired on the CW. Starring Nina Dobrev Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, their steamy love triangle kept viewers guessing. The success of this show made "The Originals," a spin-off from "The Vampire Diaries" possible.

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The teenage victim of a gruesome murder tells her story while the family deals with their grief.

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

"Sula" by Toni Morrison

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Alice Sebold scored big with "The Lovely Bones"; it won 12 literary awards including the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. Honoring writers who have produced "Superior Achievement" in horror writing, The Bram Stoker Award is one writers covet.

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Accused of killing her cheating husband, a former inmate seeks the help of a detective to find the real killer.

"Obsidian Butterfly" by Laurell K. Hamilton

"A is for Alibi" by Sue Grafton

"The Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware

When it came to titling her books, Sue Grafton came up with a great way to let readers know the order of her series. Each novel starts with a letter of the alphabet, so you go in alphabetical order to keep the story going.

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Taking place in the early 1800s, this is a story of undying love and revenge of a brooding hero and his society grabbing desire.

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

If you're ever wondering what the dark and brooding archetype is, look no further than Heathcliff from "Wuthering Heights." This beautifully constructed character, as well as his counterpart Catherine, helped make this one a timeless romantic classic.

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